Floribunda rose plant named &#39;Meiajbeth&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided that commonly commences blooming medium in the season and forms abundantly and substantially continuously attractive near white suffused with red single blossoms. The growth habit is bushy, and strong vegetation is formed. The vegetation is dark green and bears a glossy aspect on the upper surface. The tolerance to disease is good, particularly with respect to Marsonia. The plant is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meiajbeth

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was ‘TheFairy’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent(i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Kormax’variety (non-patented in the United States) and an unnamed andunreleased seedling (non-patented in the United States).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

‘The Fairy’×(‘Kormax’×unnamed seedling).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

(a) displays a bushy growth habit with strong vegetation,

(b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractivenear white suffused with red single blossoms,

(c) exhibits dense dark green foliage with a glossy aspect on the uppersurface,

(d) displays good disease tolerance particularly with respect toMarsonia, and

(e) is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentationin parks and gardens.

The blooming tends to commence medium in the season, during observationsto date.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage where attractive ornamentation is to beprovided.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, ‘The Fairy’ parental variety forms dissimilar light pinkblossoms. The ‘Kormax’ variety forms dissimilar red blossoms commonlyhaving six petals.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France, has shown that the characteristics ofthe new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newvariety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiajbeth’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately three years of age and wereobserved during June while budded on Rosa laxa understock and growingoutdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Comparative standardcolor information is included at the bottom.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot with unopened floralbuds;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud wherein the petals arebeginning to open;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud wherein the petals aremore fully open;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 —illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets—planview—upper surface (right) and—under surface (left);

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of leaves with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface (lower right) and—under surface (upper left); and

FIG. 15—illustrates a cluster of buds.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of three-year-old plants during May which were budded onRosa laxa understock and growing outdoors at Le Gannet des Maures, Var,France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146C. adult            wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Thorns.—on young stems: configuration: with an obovate base.            quantity approximately 5 on average on a stem length of            10 cm. length: approximately 6 mm on average. on adult            stems: configuration: slightly curved downwards on the upper            surface and concave on the under surface. quantity.            approximately 1 on average on a stem length of 10 cm.            length: approximately 1.2 cm on average. color near            Greyed-Orange Group 166A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, narrow, approximately 1.7 cm in            length on average, approximately 4 mm in width on average,            near Green Group 1376 on the upper surface, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Green Group 137B in            coloration. under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration. texture: non-glandular on the upper surface, and            with a few small prickles on the under surface.        -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 145C in            coloration. under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 145B in            coloration.        -   Leaflets.—number 3, 5 (most often), and 7. shape: generally            elliptical with an acuminate tip and an obtuse base. size:            the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 4.6 cm in            length on average and approximately 2.7 cm in width on            average. serration: slightly denticulate, small and single.            texture: physically firm and leathery. color (young            foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146A. under            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147C. color (adult            foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 137B. under            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 3 to 15 blossoms            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—non-glandular, approximately 2 cm in length on            average, approximately 1 mm in diameter on average, and near            Yellow-Green Group 147C in coloration.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            148B and 148C in coloration. under surface: smooth and near            Yellow-Green Group 147C in coloration. shape: longish and            narrow, and upright at the base. size: approximately 1 to            1.2 cm in length on average, and approximately 3 mm in width            at the widest point on average.        -   Buds.—shape: substantially conical. size: small. length:            approximately 5 mm on average. width: approximately 3 mm on            average at the widest point. color as calyx breaks: upper            surface: near Red Group 36D slightly suffused with near Red            Group 36C, and with a large spot of near Yellow Group 2B and            2C at the base. under surface: near Yellow-White Group 158D            slightly suffused with near Red Group 36D, with a large spot            of near Yellow Group 2B and 2C at the base.        -   Flower.—shape: cup-shaped. diameter approximately 4 to 5 cm            on average. color (in the course of opening): upper surface:            near Red Group 36D slightly suffused with near Red Group            36C, with a large spot of near Yellow Group 2B and 2C at the            base. under surface: near Yellow-White Group 158D very            slightly suffused with near Red Group 36D, with a large spot            of near Yellow Group 2B and 2C at the base. color (open            flower): upper side: near Red Group 36C amply suffused with            near Red Group 49B and 49C, with a large spot of near Yellow            Group 2B and 2C at the base. under side: near Yellow-White            Group 158D very slightly margined with near Red Group 36C,            with a large spot of near Yellow Group 2B and 2C at the            base. fragrance: none detected. petal number approximately 5            on average under normal growing conditions. petal shape:            with a substantially rounded tip and a rounded base. petal            texture: leathery and somewhat firm. petal length:            approximately 2 cm on average. petal width: approximately 2            cm on average. petal arrangement: imbricated, and without            petaloids. petal drop: good with the petals commonly            detaching cleanly before drying. stamen number approximately            104 on average. anthers: regularly arranged around the            styles, approximately 1 mm in size on average, and near            Yellow-Orange Group 15C in coloration. filaments:            approximately 3 mm in length on average, and near Yellow            Group 2C in coloration. pistils: approximately 33 on            average. stigmas: approximately 1 mm in size on average, and            near Yellow-Green Group 150C in coloration. styles:            approximately 2 mm in length on average, and near Red Group            50C in coloration. receptacle: smooth, pitcher-shaped in            longitudinal section, approximately 7 mm in length on            average, approximately 4 mm in width on average at the            widest point, and near Yellow-Green Group 147C in            coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—strong.        -   Blooming.—medium season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—good, particularly with respect to            Marsonia.

The new ‘Meiajbeth’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) displays a bushy growth habit withstrong vegetation, (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuousbasis attractive near white suffused with red single blossoms, (c)exhibits dense dark green foliage with a glossy aspect on the uppersurface, (d) displays good disease tolerance particularly with respectto Marsonia, and (e) is particularly well suited for providingattractive ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as shownand described.